FDA plans to set up its own food testing lab in Mungsara near Nashik

NASHIK: The Food and Drug Administration is planning to set up its own lab for food testing and analysis in Mungsara near Nashik.
Speaking to TOI, Joint commissioner of FDA, Nashik division, Chandrakant Pawar, joint commissioner, FDA (Food), Nashik division said, "We have identified two acres at Mungsara and will start working on the project once we get grant from the state government."
ce sends its food samples to the state government's District Health Lab in the Civil Hospital's campus. The Hospital had started testing food samples from June 2012.
"At times, we have had to get tests conducted done in our lab in Pune. Once our own lab is operational here, we will get reports of food samples faster," said Pawar.
Meanwhile, the FDA's Nashik division has recorded a 75.37 per cent rise in business registrations and a 25.90 per cent decline in licences issued during 2012-13 as compared to previous fiscal year.
As per the new Food Safety Act, a licence is compulsory for businesses with a turn over more than Rs 12 lakh, while businesses with a turn over of less than Rs 12 lakh only require to get registered. and do not need a licence.
Businesses can be registered for a yearly fee of Rs 100, while a licence costs Rs 2,000 per year.
The FDA registered 21,076 businesses in the 2012-13 fiscal, as opposed to 12,018 registrations during the previous year 2011-12 in the Nashik division, with a 75.37 per cent rise comparatively.
Licences were issued to 6,307 businesses in the fiscal year 2012-13, against 8,512 licences during 2011-12, with a 25.90 per cent decline. The FDA earned Rs 3.59 crore in revenue during 2012-13 through registrations and licences.